Mug Race facts for kids

The Mug Race is an exciting yearly sailing race held in the US state of Florida. It takes place on the beautiful St. Johns River. This race is known as the "World's Longest River Race" because it covers a long distance.

The race begins in Palatka and finishes in Jacksonville. To join the race, boats must have masts shorter than 44 feet. This rule is important so the boats can pass safely under all the bridges along the river.

The race course is about 38.5 miles long. It starts at the Memorial Bridge and ends at the Buckman Bridge. The first boat to cross the finish line wins the special Mug Cup. Besides the main Mug Cup, there are also more than 100 other trophies for different types of boats and classes!

Mug Cup Champions

Many skilled sailors have won the Mug Cup over the years. This table shows the winners of the Mug Cup from 1954 to 2019.

Year	Home town	Captain	Model
1954	Jacksonville, Florida	Al Holt	Cat Scow
1955	Charleston, South Carolina	George Lockwood	50 ft sloop
1956		Jim Vanvoast	Flying Dutchman
1957	Palatka, Florida	Gene O'Connor	Raven
1958		Jim Vanvoast	Flying Dutchman
1959		Oscar Hubbert	C Scow
1960	Columbia, South Carolina	George Walters
1961	Titusville, Florida	Hugh McClain
1962	Jacksonville, Florida	Herb Elphick	Catamaran
1963		William Miller
1964	Cocoa Beach, Florida	Luc Martin	Shark
1965		Charles Holt
1966	Orlando, Florida	Al Nikolaien	Helcat 25
1967		Harold Balcom	Helcat 25
1968	Merritt Island, Florida	David Carey	Tornado
1969	Cocoa Beach, Florida	Russ Gregory	Tornado
1970	Cocoa Beach, Florida	Russ Gregory	Tornado
1971	Orlando, Florida	Jim McCann	Tornado
1972	Cocoa Beach, Florida	Russ Gregory	Tornado
1973	Orlando, Florida	Jim McCann	Tornado
1974	Orlando, Florida	Jim McCann	Tornado
1975	Orlando, Florida	Jim McCann	Tornado
1976	Miami, Florida	Chris Christensen	Nacra 5.2
1977	W. Palm Beach, Florida	Chuck Cairnes	Tornado
1978	W. Palm Beach, Florida	Chuck Cairnes	Tornado
1979	Jacksonville, Florida	Mike Walsh	Hobie 18
1980	Boca Raton, Florida	Eric Arens	18 Square
1981	W. Palm Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	Supercat 20
1982	Boca Raton, Florida	Eric Arens	18 Square
1983	W. Palm Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	Supercat 20
1984	W. Palm Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1985	W. Palm Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1986	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1887	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1988	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1989	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1990	Fort Walton Beach, Florida	Randy Smyth	NACRA 6.0
1991	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1992	Montreal, Canada	Philip James	Mystere 6.0
1993	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1994	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1995	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Bill Roberts	RC 27
1996	Flowery Branch, Georgia	Doug Harkrider	Supercat 22
1997	Flowery Branch, Georgia	Doug Harkrider	Supercat 22
1998	Flowery Branch, Georgia	Doug Harkrider	Supercat 22
1999	Jupiter, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2000	Orlando, Florida	Lloyd Beery	Supercat 22
2001	Miami, Florida	Clive Mayo	Hobie 21
2002	Jupiter, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2003	Orlando, Florida	Lloyd Beery	Supercat 22
2004	Jupiter, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2005	Jacksonville, Florida	Mike Tierney	RC27
2006	Jacksonville, Florida	Robert Lyman	RC27
2007	Jupiter, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2008	Jupiter, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2009	Charleston, South Carolina	Robby Wilkins	E-scow
2010	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2011	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2012	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2013	Napier, New Zealand	Paul Scoffin	Flying Dutchman
2014	Jacksonville, Florida	Chris Cordes	A-Cat
2015	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2016	Jupiter Beach, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30
2017	Jacksonville, Florida	Rich Brew	RC27
2018	Miami, Florida	Ralph Cole	F20 Carbon
2019	Tequesta, Florida	Eric Roberts	RC30